Electric flat-iron.



E. P. STEGEMANf ELECTRIC FLAT IRON. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 10, 1912,

1,055,951. a Patented Mar. 11,1913.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Suva/mica Gum mam:

E. F. STBGEMAN.

ELECTRIC FLAT IRON.

AP'PLIOATION FILED sEPT. 10, 1912.

Patented Mar. 11, 1913.

3 SHEETS-SHBET 2.

amour/tor 6 I I (1 5 9 07 f. otc9e7ra EDWARD F. STEGEMAN, 0F ROLLINSVTLLE, COLORADO.

ELECTRIC FLAT-IRON.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 11,1913.

Application filed September 10, 1912. Serial No. 719,615.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD F. STEGEMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Rollinsville, in the county of Gilpin and State of Colorado, have invented new and useful Improvements in Electric Flat-Irons, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an electric flat iron adapted to be used for pressing clothes and like purposes, the primary object being to provide a device of this character which has supporting rolls adapted to move across the surface of the material being pressed.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for operatingone of the rolls so as to propel the device and thus save a lot of labor in the operation thereof, the

device being further provided with heating elements disposed within the said rolls and connected to a suitable source of current, the same source being used to furnish motive power to the operating roll. Another object of the, invention is to provide an electrical switch device in the handle of the flat iron, which may be readily actuated by the hand of the operator so as to cause rotation of the operating roll in either direction, the said switching device adapted normally to be maintained in neutral position, wherein the current is completely cut off from the propelling motor and the heating elements.

The invention consists of the features of constructlon, combination and arrangement of part-s, hereinafter fully described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of the device. Fig. 2"is a top plan view thereof. Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view. Fig.4 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on the line 44 of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 isa' transverse sectional view on the line 55 of Fig. 1, showing the propelling roll in partial longitudinal section.

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic view of the wiring of the device, showing the propelling roll in longitudinal section. Fig. 7 is a fragmentary, longitudinal, sectional view taken through'the handle of the device and showing the switch structure. Fig. 8 is a similar sectional view taken at right angles to Fig. 7. 1

In the drawmgs, 1 designates the body of the flat iron which comprises an outer shell. 2, constructed preferably of heat insulating material, and which has its bottom open and f is provided. with upwardly tapering side walls 3, the said side walls converging for,- wardlyto form a pointed end. A frame 5 is positioned within the shell 2 and comprises an u per section 6 abutting the top The roll 14 is hollow in construction and is provided with a cylindrical shaft 19 whose extremities are j ournaled in suitable bearings 20 and 21 carried-by the side walls 9 and :10, respectively, of the lower section 8 of the frame. Suitable heating elements 22 in the form of resistance coils are provided within this roll and are connected by conductors 23 and 24 with the collector rings 25 and 26 mounted upon the shaft 19 at one end there of and exteriorly of the roll. Suitable brushes 27 and 28 are secured to the corresponding side wall 10 of the lower section of the frame for a purpose to be described more fully hereinafter.

The roll 15 is the propelling roll of the device and is constructed entirely different from the roll 14. The central shaft 29 upon which this 'roll is mountedhas its ends squared, as at 31, so as to be held rigid 9 and 10 of the lower sect-ion of the frame. The central portion of the shaft 29 is cylindrical and has rotatably mounted therein the spaced hubs 33 and 34 upon which the .within brackets 32 carried by the side walls outer, cylindrical portion 35 of the roll 15. 7

is mounted by means of the parallel webs 36 and 37, respectively. The roll is held against longitudinal movement upon the shaft 29 by means of the adjustable sleeve members 38 and 39, which latter are adapted to be rigidly secured to the said shaft. The

motor which is adapted to rotate the said roll is of the rotary field type, the: pole pieces 40 of the field magnets being' secured to the inner periphery 41 of the cylindrical portion of the roll within the s' ace 42 provided between the webs 36 and 3 so as to be housed therein. The armature 43 of the motor is rigidly mounted upon the shaft 29 inthe plane of the pole pieces 40. A suit- 60 wall 7 of t e shell and a lower section 8 able commutator 44 is attached to the shaft- 29 and is adapted to be contacted with by the brushes 45 and 46 to the Web 37. A pair of collector rings 47 and 48 are mounted upon the hub 34 outside the casing inclosing the spaces 42, and are electrically connected with the brushes 45 and 46, respectively, by means of the conductors 49 and 50. Suitable brushes 51"and 52 are attached to the sleeve member 39 so as to be in contact with the collector rings 47 and 48, respectively. A second pair of collector rings 53 and 54 are mounted upon the outer portion of the hub 33, and are electrically connected with the field windings 55 by means of the conductors 56 and 57, suitable brushes 58 and 59 being attached to the sleeve member 38 and disposed in contact with the said collector rings 53 and 54, respectively.

Heating elements or coils are provided within the end portion 61 .of the roll exteriorly with respect to the web 36 thereof, and are connected with the brushes 58 and 59 by means of the conductors 62 and 63. A'second set of heating elements 64 is positioned within the opposite end portion 65 of the roll in connection with the brushes 51 and 52 through the medium of the conduc readily operable to reverse the direction of the said motor, by changing the polarity of the field current.

The handle of the flat iron consists of the curved metal end portions 68 and 69, and

the wooden grip portion 70, which latter consists of the longitudinally s lit sections 71 and 72 having a central bore 3 provided therebetween in communication with the interior of the body 1 through the medium of the central openings 74 and 75 provided in the said end portions 68 and 69, respectively, of the handle. The grip portion 70 of the handle is centrally provided with an enlarged cylindrical recess 76 andreduced recesses 77 and 78 in communication there with. Supporting plates 79 and 80 of insulating material are secured to the annular shoulders 81 and 82'provided at the juncture of the recess 76 with the reduced recesses 77 p and 78, respectively. An' upper pair of fixed contacts 83 and 84 and a lower pair of fixed contacts 85 and 86 are mounted within the plate 79 so that the upper pair of con tacts 83 .and 84 is disposed in the path of movement of a pairof movable contacts 87 and 88 attached to the upper portion of a contact member 89 pivoted at 90 within the recess 76. The lower pair of fixed contacts 85 and 86 are disposed in thepath of movement of a lower pair of movable contacts 91 and 92 carried by the lower portion of the member 89. The, lower portion of the member 89 is extended through an elongated slot 93 in the section 72 of the grip portion of the handle so as to form an operating or handle portion 94 which is adapted to be positioned between the fingers of the operators hand when grasping the grip portion of the handle. An upper pair of fixed contacts 95 and 96 is mounted within the plate in the path of a corresponding pair of movable contacts 97 and 98 attached to the upper portion of the member 89, and a lower pair of fixed cont-acts 99 and 100 is secured to the same plate in the path of a lower pair of movable contacts 101 and 102 attached to" the lower portion of the member 89. A movable contact 103 formed on the upper end of the member 89 is adapted to contact with either of the fixed contacts 104 and 105 attached to the upper portion of the plates 79 and 80, respectively. The contact member 89 is normally maintained in a vertical, neutral position by means of the opposedhelical springs 106 and 107, the contacts carried thereby being out of engagement with the fixed contacts when in this position.

Referring particularly to Fig. 6 it will be understood that I have connected a lamp cord leading from a lamp socket to the bindmg posts 108 and 109 attached to the end portion 69 of the handle. A conductor 110 leads from the binding post 108 to the fixed contact 86, and a conductor 111 connects the conductor 110 with the fixed contact 99.

The binding post 109 is connected with the pivot 90 of the movable contact member 89 by means of a conductor 112, and a conductor 113 connects the conductor 112 with the fixed contact 85. Conductors 114 and 115 lead from-the conductors 112 and 110 to the brushes27 and 28, respectively, thus connecting the heating coils within the roll 14 in shunt with the remainder of the circuits which will be presently described. A conductor 116 leads from the conductor 111 to the brush 51 carried by the shaft 29 of the propeller roll, and the coacting brush 52 is connected by means of the conductor 117 with the fixedcontact 104, the contact 105 being connected with the said conductor 117 by means of the short branch conductor 118. The brush 58 'carriedby the sleeve member 38 mounted upon the opposite end of the Contact 96. A conductor 122 connects the conductor 112 with the fixed contact 100. Conductors 123 and 124 embedded within the body of the member 89 connect the mov- 5 able contacts 87 and 88 carried thereby with the contacts 101 and 102, respectively, and similar conductors 125 and 126 connect the contacts 97 and 98, respectively, with the contacts 91 and '92. A conductor 127 con nects the pivot 90 of the member 89 With th contact 103.

Upon-movement of the operating portion 94 of the movable contact member 89 in the 1 direction of the arrow at, the movable con- 5 tacts 91 and 92 will engage the contacts 85 and 86, the movable contacts 97 and 98 will engage the fixed contacts 95 and 96, and the movable contact 103 will engage the fixed contact 105. In this position of the movable contact, current passes through conductor 112, to the pivot 90,0f the member 89, and

through conductor 127, contact 103 and 105, conductor 118, conductor 117 to brush 52. Current is admitted through the armature winding of the motor and out through conductor 116, to conductor 110 through which it passes to the binding post 108 and thence to the source. At the same time, current passes in through the binding post 109, conductors 112 and 113, through fixed contact 85, movable contact 91, conductor 125, movable contact 97 fixed contact 95, then through coifductor .119 to brush 58. After passing from this point through the field 20,

the current passes out through brush 59, conductors 121 and 122 to fixed contact 96, then through movable contact 98, conductor [126, movable contact 92, fixed contact 86, and conductor 110 and binding post 108, from which point it passes to the source of supply. The heating element 64 is connected as'will be seen by the conductors 66 and 67 in shunt with the armature circuit, and the heating element 60 is connected by means of the conductors 62 and 63 in shunt with the field circuit. When the movable contact member 89 is thrown in the opposite direction, current will pass in throughbinding post 109, conductor 112, conductor 122,

contact 100, and movable contact 102,

through conductor 124 carried by the mov-- able switch member, then through movable contact 88,'fixed contact 84, and conductor 121, to the brush 59. The current then 5 passes through the field windings of the motor in a reverse direction to its longitudinal direction, then from the brush 58 through conductor 119 and 120, fixed contact 83,. movable contact 87, conductor 123,

60 movable contact 101, fixed contact 99, conductors 111 and 110, through binding post 108, to the source. The'armature current at the same time passes. in through conductor 112, pivot 90, conductor 127, movable con 5 tact 1 03, fixed contact 104, conductor 117, to

said rolls and electrical means for operating brush 52. After passing through the armature winding, the current passes from brush 51' through conductors 116 and 111 to conductor 110 back through binding post 108 to the source. 7

It will thus be seen that, upon operation of the movable switch member in eitherdimotion, that the direction of the armature .will remain the same, whereas, the direction of the field current in its shunt circuit will be reversed, and that in either case all of the heating elements will be connected in parallel with the main circuits as described. When the movable switch member is permitted to assume its neutral position, the 0 motor and the heating elements will be cut out of circuit. This construction and wiring of the electrical components ofthe device permits of making the shell of the flat iron body and the heating rolls of comparatively massive, heavy metal, so as to be particularly eificient in operation, without being hard to manipulate by the operator, as the device is self-operable. it is merely necessary for the operator to guide the iron in its course and to operate the switch device in order to change the direction thereof after rendering the same inoperative, as desired.

Whatls claimed is:

1. A flat iron comprising a body, means 5 for propelling said body, and heating means carried by said propelling means.

2. A flat iron comprising a body, means for propelling said body, and electrical means carried by said propelling means for heating the body.

3. A fiat.ir0n comprising a body, a plurality of cylindrical rolls pivoted'to said body and engageable with the surface to be ironed, and means for rotating one of said rolls to propel the body.

4. A flat iron comprising a body, rolls pivoted to said body and engageable with the surface to be ironed, means-carried by said rolls for heating the same, and means for ro- 110 tating one of said rolls to propel the body.

5. A flat iron comprising a body, rolls journaled in said body and engageable with i the surface to be ironed, means for heating one of said rolls to propel the body.

6. A flat iron comprising a hollow body having an active under face and a plurality of openings in communication with said face, and rolls journaled in said body and extending intosaid openings with their peripheral facesta-ngential with the active face of said body and means for rotating one of said .rolls topropel the body.

7. A flat iron comprising a body, rolls v journaled in said body and engageable with the surface to be ironed, electrical means for operating one of said rolls to propel the body in either direction, and means for regulating said operating means.

8. flat iron comprising a body, rolls 'journaled in said body and engageable with vided in said circuit for reversing the direction of rotation of said motor.

9. A fiat iron comprising a body, rolls journaled in said body and engageable with the surface to be ironed, one of said rolls comprising a shaft fixedly secured to said body, and a cylindrical body portion journaled'on said shaft, a motor forming a part of said roll and consisting of an armature fixed to said shaft, and a field attachedto the cylindrical body, an electric circuit for said armature, a field circuitin shunt with the armature circuit and means for reversing the polarity of the field circuit.

10. A fiat iron comprising a body, a handle for said body, a plurality of rolls journaled in said body and engageable with the surface to be ironed,. a motor forming a part of one of said rolls, an electrical circuit for the armature of said motor, a field circuit for said .motor in shunt with the armature circuit, and means carried by said handle by which the polarity of the field circuit may be changed, said ,means further serving to make and break the armature circuit.

11. A flat iron comprising a body, a handle for said body, a plurality of rolls journaled in said body and engageable with the surface to be ironed, a motor forming part of one of said rolls, an armature circuit for said motor, a field circuit for said motor in shunt with the armature circuit, electrical heating elements carried by said rolls and connected in shunt with the said armature circuit, and a switch device carried by said handle and operable to make or break the armature circuit and the heating element circuits, said means further adapted to change the polarity of the field circuit.

In testimony whereof I aifix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

EDWARD F. STEGEMAN. Witnesses:

E. H. RI ER,

H. LoNoNEoKnR. 

